Chapter 366 : It just looks kind of lonely

Translator: FenrirTL

Editor/Quality Checker: Saphartlantis

Murim Term Consultant: Kopke

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Chapter 366: It just looks kind of lonely

When Geom Mugeuk returned to the annex, Bih Sa-in was conducting breathing exercises in the yard.

“You’re back?”

Bih Sa-in greeted Geom Mugeuk with a relaxed expression.

Then, as he examined Bih Sa-in closely, Geom Mugeuk asked with a suspicious gaze.

“You, who are you?”

Thinking it might be another prank, Bih Sa-in didn’t respond at all.

“I said, who are you. My friend, the Young Leader, is not someone who wears such a relaxed expression. My friend, even when in a good mood, has the same face as when throwing down a battle invitation to an enemy. Get out of my friend’s body right now!”

Bih Sa-in shook his head with a bewildered expression.

“Can’t we go even one day without your antics?”

“We’ve got to get in all the jokes while we’re still young. Just look at your master or my father. Aren’t they both too stiff and boring? We’ll end up the same, once we age.”

“You’ll still be pulling pranks even when you’re that age, won’t you?”

Probably unable to deny that, Geom Mugeuk grinned as he swiftly changed subjects. 1

“How did it go, the thing you went for?”

“It went well. Nothing major, except that those bastards are planning to ambush the Alliance Leader.”

“What!”

Knowing that Geom Mugeuk wasn’t someone who joked about such matters, Bih Sa-in quickly asked.

“What happened?”

Geom Mugeuk relayed everything that had happened.

“I drove him into a corner like that. Now the only move they can make is to kill the Alliance Leader and take over the Unorthodox Alliance. I’m sorry it came to this. There was no other way to lure them out.”

Though it would’ve made sense for him to get angry for putting the Alliance Leader in danger, Bih Sa-in simply nodded in silence.

“Why aren’t you angry?”

“Didn’t you say there was no other way?”

Geom Mugeuk could feel clearly now that his relationship with Bih Sa-in was not what it used to be. Once far away, he now stood right before him.

“They won’t dare to attack as long as he stays in the Alliance Leader’s Hall.”

The Alliance Leader’s Hall itself was a fortress, and countless unseen experts guarded its surroundings. While perhaps one or two might sneak in with Hyeok Sagun, it was impossible for a large enemy force to break through.

“They’ll aim for when he leaves the alliance. The Deputy Strategist is the first to know the Alliance Leader’s schedule.”

Geom Mugeuk nodded, as if he thought the same.

“When I said that the Demon Doctor and the Poison King would arrive in ten days… it’s because I want you to join this fight.”

There was a tremble in Bih Sa-in’s face. As his face was grotesque and terrifying, the trembling left an even stronger impression.

“I appreciate your concern, but there’s no need.”

Bih Sa-in said something unexpected.

“Don’t include me in your plans.”

“Will you really be alright with that?”

Bih Sa-in nodded.

Don’t get used to it.

After hearing those words his master had once told him, Bih Sa-in was able to calm his heart. Because he realized that now wasn’t the time to fight—it was the time to change his bandages. It wasn’t the time to boil over, but to cool down.

Geom Mugeuk could feel it. That Bih Sa-in had grown a great deal in a short time.

“You’ve changed a lot.”

“It’s all thanks to someone.”

The two locked eyes softly in midair.

“Then get some rest.”

As Geom Mugeuk turned to leave, Bih Sa-in spoke from behind him.

“Thank you.”

It was just one word, but it carried Bih Sa-in’s sincerity.

“Then don’t just say it—grant me one request.”

It was the same request he had made to Baek Jagang.

“Let’s hear it.”

“I’ll tell you once all this is over.”

Then came an unexpected promise from Bih Sa-in.

“Whatever it is, I’ll do it.” 2

To promise to do anything, even before hearing what it was—that kind of answer, coming from someone who meant to keep his word, was more powerful and meaningful than any spoken gratitude.

It was also the moment the gratitude-filled basket of debt was emptied.

“What will you do if I ask for your position? You just said you’d do anything.”

Bih Sa-in said as he turned to enter the building.

“Then I’ll challenge you for the position of Young Cult Leader.”

From behind, Geom Mugeuk shouted to him,

“You’ll swallow those words real fast after meeting my father!” 3

*         *         *

The next day as well, Geom Mugeuk visited the Alliance Leader’s Hall.

Walking down the hallway, he once again stopped before the steel wolf standing guard.

“Do you like that wolf?”

At the unexpected question, Geom Mugeuk turned with a surprised expression to look at Ingung, the Guard Division Leader guiding him.

Even today on the way there, he had bombarded Ingung with all kinds of questions. When do you sleep with all this guarding? How much do you have to train to reach that level of stealth? Who controls the poison needle holes beneath the Alliance Leader’s Hall? How much is your salary? Of course, Ingung didn’t answer a single one.

But now, Ingung had spoken first.

“Did you know? This is the first time you’ve spoken directly to me since we met.”

“You seemed to keep an eye on that wolf.”

Geom Mugeuk’s gaze turned back to the wolf. It could have been taken as a joke—Ah, so you only spoke to me because of the wolf—but instead, Geom Mugeuk responded calmly, with a deepened gaze.

“It just looked kind of lonely.”

That was why he liked it. It reminded him of his father, of the grotesque and terrifying Evil Smiling Demon sitting alone in a stark white room, of the Alliance Leader walking across a wind-blown field, of this silent Guard Division Leader who guided him. And it also reminded him immensely of himself—before the regression and after.

Ingung's gaze also turned to the wolf. It was an unexpected response. Though he had passed through this corridor countless times, not once had he ever thought such a thing. The Young Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult was clearly different from the martial artists he had seen so far. Well, that was probably why he was the one standing in this hallway.

Then Geom Mugeuk said something else unexpected.

“Someday, I feel like this wolf will come to life.”

That, too, was a sincere remark. It was just the feeling he had. He couldn’t explain it, but there was a strange pull that seemed to draw him in.

Ingung looked at Geom Mugeuk. Among his subordinates, not one of them believed in that legend.

‘So you believe something even we don’t believe in.’

Geom Mugeuk gave the wolf’s head a gentle stroke.

“You rascal, don’t doze off—keep watch properly!”

Once again, he moved on with Ingung guiding him.

Before the doors to the Alliance Leader’s Hall opened, Geom Mugeuk spoke to Ingung.

“He’s strong.”

Whenever he met the Unorthodox Alliance Leader, Ingung was always present.

Since he always remained hidden and listened to every conversation, he knew exactly what Geom Mugeuk was referring to.

“I understand.”

Ingung responded with courtesy.

It was something the Guard Division Leader had to be aware of—so he had reminded him of the Battle King’s strength.

The door opened, and Geom Mugeuk stepped inside.

The Unorthodox Alliance Leader, Baek Jagang, was seated on the Dark Tyrant Throne, eyes closed and deep in thought. Knowing better than anyone how critical such moments of contemplation were for masters of Baek Jagang’s level, Geom Mugeuk moved without making a sound.

Only when Geom Mugeuk approached below the Dark Tyrant Throne did Baek Jagang finally speak.

“So, was your plan to freely come and go like this and then kill me?”

It was a jest about how he had approached unnoticed.

“If I were to kill the Alliance Leader, I’d have to put in at least this much effort, wouldn’t I? Ah, but I suppose I still need more training in my movement arts. I’ll have to sneak about ten steps closer in silence if I’m going to seat my friend in that position.”

Baek Jagang opened his eyes wide. Indeed, jokes were only fun when the other person said them without watching your reaction.

“Do you have a plan?”

“As you know, our alliance’s forces are in disarray. What are your thoughts?”

“I wouldn’t claim to have any particular thoughts, but…”

Despite his words, Geom Mugeuk already had a plan in mind.

“They won’t make a move while you remain in the alliance, so there needs to be a natural reason for you to leave. That way, they won’t be suspicious.”

As Baek Jagang nodded, Geom Mugeuk continued.

“Let’s say you're going out to meet the Demon Doctor and the Poison King. The Chief Strategist who is ill is currently being kept hidden outside, isn’t he?”

During the last meeting, he had asked for precautions, saying that Hyeok Sagun might try to kill the Chief Strategist to eliminate the evidence. So the Alliance Leader had secretly relocated the Chief Strategist to a hidden place.

“We’ll use the excuse that you don’t want to bring the Poison King and the Demon Doctor into the Unorthodox Alliance, and go out to meet them. Tell Hyeok Sagun that you plan to go directly to the Chief Strategist with them. It’s a golden opportunity for them. They might not believe that I killed you alone, but if they hear the Poison King poisoned you, they’ll believe it.”

Baek Jagang was impressed. He figured that Geom Mugeuk must have thought this far ahead from the moment he lied about the Poison King and Demon Doctor coming, all to corner Hyeok Sagun.

“Let’s do that.”

Baek Jagang accepted Geom Mugeuk’s plan.

“What did Sa-in think about all this?”

“The Young Leader said he wouldn’t fight, so not to worry and to go ahead with the plan.”

Baek Jagang could tell that the words he had passed on had reached his disciple clearly.

“Even so, I plan to take the Young Leader with me.”

“Why?”

“Because this is his fight too. If he misses this chance, he’ll regret today for the rest of his life. And I don’t want my friend to live with that kind of regret. Don’t worry, I’ll protect him well.”

Baek Jagang didn’t get goosebumps from those words.

There are people with whom this kind of feeling resonates—and those with whom it doesn’t. He found himself wishing Geom Mugeuk had been one of the latter.

In nearly every relationship where this feeling resonated, what remained in the end was disappointment. It was also the biggest reason he found it hard to trust people.

‘Could you be the exception?’

That thought surfaced because of all the unexpected things this young Young Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult had shown thus far. But no, that couldn’t be.

“Don’t worry about your friend—worry about yourself. Do you have any idea how many poison needle holes are beneath your feet right now?”

“Whoa there!” Geom Mugeuk gasped in mock panic.

“Guess I shouldn’t look at the ground anymore! Fortunately, I’m more of a sky-gazer anyway.”

*         *         *

And so, a few days passed. It was now the day before the Alliance Leader’s scheduled departure from the alliance.

“Ugh, tomorrow the damn fights will start all over again.”

At Instructor Cha’s grumbling, Hwang Seokgyeong, who was helping carry training equipment, smiled. Tomorrow was the day a new class of cadets would arrive at the Alliance Training Center. This complaint always came out like clockwork at the end of his short breaks.

“Think of them as the future foundation of the alliance.”

“Only someone as popular as you would say that. I find it unbearable. I wonder which brat’s going to piss me off this time.”

As he set the equipment down, Hwang Seokgyeong spoke to Instructor Cha.

“Oh, by the way, I won’t be able to make it tomorrow.”

“You? Why not? You feeling sick?”

Instructor Cha was startled. Hwang Seokgyeong was the most diligent person in the Alliance Training Center. He was never absent—not even once—and now he was saying he wouldn’t be there on the first day of welcoming a new class? No wonder Cha was shocked.

“There’s somewhere I need to go.”

“Where?”

Hwang Seokgyeong only smiled and didn’t answer.

“I’ll lock up the storage room and head back, so you go on ahead.”

“Would you really?”

As Instructor Cha walked off into the distance, he turned around and asked,

“If there’s anything I can help with, just let me know.” 4

Looking at him, Hwang Seokgyeong smiled brightly.

“It’s fine. It’s something I have to do myself.”

It’s something only I can do.

After parting ways with Instructor Cha, Hwang Seokgyeong returned to the storage room where they had taken out the training equipment.

Once inside, he cleared away the dusty gear piled in the corner. They were old and unused tools.

He then operated a hidden mechanism embedded in the wall. A door leading underground opened.

As Hwang Seokgyeong stepped inside, the door closed automatically behind him.

Fragments of Night Pearls embedded in the walls faintly lit the small hidden chamber.

On the wall in front of him hung a protective robe. If martial artists knew what it was, nine out of ten would scream.

The Immortal Divine Robe.

It was his most cherished armor, worn only for the most critical of battles.

After stripping off his clothes completely, he put it on. Made from a blend of special fabrics and Supreme Heavenly Silk, it clung to his body like a second skin. Thin yet powerful, it was a legendary artifact of the martial world that couldn’t be bought even for a fortune. 5

And that wasn’t all. Hwang Seokgyeong strapped on guards for his wrists and shins.

Twin Souls.

Named Twin Souls, these protectors weren’t on the level of the Immortal Divine Robe, but they were still rare artifacts not easily found in the world of martial artists.

Next, he fastened a leather belt designed for holding throwing knives. Opening a box beside him revealed an array of daggers. Like the divine items before, neither the belt nor the daggers were ordinary.

Hwang Seokgyeong slowly and carefully inserted each dagger into the belt.

His movements as he prepared for battle were calm and deliberate. 6

Lastly, he put on a pair of gloves.

War God.

These too were crafted from special materials and felt as if he weren’t wearing them at all. They not only protected his hands from sword aura and energy blades, but also amplified the power of his punches to their utmost limit. 7

This was the first time. The first time he had ever worn all of these at once to go into battle.

Clothed once more in his outer garments, Hwang Seokgyeong emerged from the hidden chamber.

He restacked the original equipment above the chamber entrance and placed his sword there as well. Today would be the last time he entered this place.

When he finally laid down his sword, Hwang Seokgyeong ceased to be an instructor of the Alliance Training Center—he became the Battle King standing on the eve of a decisive battle.

1 : Touche ^^

2 : “Dance before the entire Unorthodox Alliance !!!” “Noo, my fatal weakness !!!” *keel over*

3 : Can’t say he’s wrong XDXDXD

4 : He really lied well for all these years.

5 : Shinyyy~~ *drools*

6 : It’s not just an equipment check, this is an important ritual to calm the mind before a crucial battle. Many experts have something similar, like sharpening their blade, meditating or rechecking the number of supplies.

7 : Wonder how much loot Mugeuk will be able to keep. Just the Immortal Divine Robe and the War God would be amazing, and the Twin Souls, daggers, and belt look nice too ^^